Archive for February, 2017

Going With the Flow This is a calming piece based on the string sounds from one of the plug-ins on my recording software program. Sometimes a new sound or new toy can inspire themes, songs and projects. This is one of those situations where I am listening to new sounds and noodling on the keyboard to hear the new tones and to see how the patch responds to the keyboard and controllers. As I was listening to the new sounds, I enjoyed the string sound I was playing with and started recording the noodling I was doing. I played for about five or six minutes and stopped recording to listen back.

The first section I scrapped and the rest was rather pleasant (sometimes this is a surprise indeed!). While listening I started hearing harmonies in my head so I started recording on a 2nd track and used the same string sound to add another layer. After that I stopped. I like the mood this inspires. I am not sure why I called it Cotton Song, but I got the feeling of being in the South overlooking plantations. So it stuck! I did not change anything and mixed it down to what you hear in this post. Other versions of noodling or just playing with sounds rarely turn into a solid piece, so I have tons of snippets that have nice themes but to date have never been expanded upon. One of these days I will listen to other noodling sessions and I might make something out of them. For this song, have a cup of tea, sit back for a little bit and let your mind and body relax. Admit it… you could use that right about now!

Like this:

As I was growing up there was always something going on. Six kids in my family, pets, friends, school, chores, projects, neighborhoods and a world to discover kept things active. Then came work, children, music, art, more projects and hobbies, more moving, supporting creative efforts, grand children, changing jobs, helping friends and family members move, it never really stopped.

I never had time by my self; I have never lived alone. Room mates, family members, partners, spouses, kids, working then practicing in spare time and playing out in bands, learning new skills and keeping up with technology all demanded time from me. Time from my own projects. Time by myself. I sleep less than most people I know (other family members aside LOL) and I got a lot done. My older brother told me that he comes to me to get a task or project done because he knows I am the busiest person he knows…… He sees that I don’t put things off or put them on a list for later. Later may be busier than now.

I get things done.

Now so you understand, I am the world’s biggest procrastinator; if it doesn’t NEED to be done NOW, and there might be a more efficient (or comfortable) time to do it, I will wait until that time. I often lump tasks and projects together to save time. I never wore a watch and I keep my ‘daily planner’ in my head. I did not need them. I did not have the luxury of scheduling events as they came at me at all times with varying levels of necessity and priorities already set.

Later in my life I would be surprised when a situation came up and there was no one around. I don’t mean waiting in a doctor’s office or standing in line for something. I mean no one around and no immediate task at hand. It got me thinking about how little time I do have by myself without a deadline or project or finally having time to get that low priority job done. It was hard to come up with many times over the years when that happened at all.

Now that I am older, I find myself relishing being alone. Thinking. Quiet. Experiencing life outdoors. Playing or listening to music. Reading. I consider myself a hermit in many ways and I think this is one of the driving forces behind the desire to ‘cut myself off’ from the rest of the world. As with many things in life this is a double-edged sword. I can see now that when I hesitate or postpone seeing a friend, going out to see a band, joining in on projects that I am actually being selfish. I just want to have some time by myself. Not to be ‘alone’, necessarily, but that is the cutting effect.

My friends will say that I am always there to help, a great friend and willing to do anything for my ‘tribe members’. I thank them for sharing their lives with me and for loving me as I am. But I do not go out of my way to contact people any more. I often avoid gatherings or opportunities to be part of the group. Inside I think I am very selfish. Not greedy as I do not want anything and do not need more of anything. Selfish about time to think. Time to play with my toys. Time to relax and do nothing.

Maybe after some time I will have had enough and venture out more. Maybe this is short term to make up for lack of space over the years. At this point I am not sure.